Erythrocystis J.Agardh, 1876

Holotype species: Erythrocystis grevillei J.Agardh

Currently accepted name for the type species: Erythrocystis saccata (J.Agardh) P.C.Silva

Original publication and holotype designation: Agardh, J.G. (1876). Species genera et ordines algarum, seu descriptiones succinctae specierum, generum et ordinum, quibus algarum regnum constituitur. Volumen tertium: De Florideis curae posteriores. Epicrisis systematis Floridearum. pp. [ii*-iii*], [i]-[viï], [1]-724. Lipsiae [Leipzig]: apud T.O. Weigel.

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Description: Thallus hemiparasitic on Laurencia, occasionally on Chondria; a cylindrical upright branch on host, becoming hollow distally, attached by a single large rhizoidal cell (sometimes more according to Goff 1982) that deeply penetrates host; hollow thallus becomes an obpyriform to ellipsoidal vesicle, up to 3.5 cm long. Axis polysiphonous, soon obscured by division into 2-3 layers of corticating tissue; apical cell initiating colorless, deciduous mostly simple trichoblasts on most segments; adventitious trichoblasts sometimes formed. Axis may also have a few adventitious polysiphonous branches. Reproductive structures in mostly distal sori on thallus. Male capitula replacing trichoblasts, in sori on thallus surface; cylindrical to ellipsoidal with monosiphonous stalks. Procarps on 2nd cell of deciduous trichoblast, located at thallus surface; supporting cell with a 4-celled carpogonial branch and 2 sterile cell groups; cystocarps immersed in cortex, protruding from thallus surface, ostiolate. Tetrasporangia in sori developed from cortex; 2 cover cells formed before the sporangium. In the Mediterranean Sea, the Canary Islands and the warm temperate west coast of North America. Structrual and reproductive characters ally Erythrocystis as a close relative of its host, Laurencia or, more rarely, Chondria.

Information contributed by: R.E. Norris. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2022-04-06 by M.D. Guiry.

Taxonomic status: This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.

Gender: This genus name is currently treated as feminine.

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Contributors
Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in CD format. These AlgaeBase descriptions are now being continually updated, and each current contributor is identified above. The PSA and AlgaeBase warmly acknowledge the generosity of all past and present contributors and particularly the work of Dr Parker.

Descriptions of chrysophyte genera were subsequently published in J. Kristiansen & H.R. Preisig (eds.). 2001. Encyclopedia of Chrysophyte Genera. Bibliotheca Phycologica 110: 1-260.

Linking to this page: https://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=38067

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 06 April 2022. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 16 April 2024